Amend3_Attch2_UpdatedQuestionsAnswers_7-1-2024.pdf

Amendment 3 – Questions and Answers

Q1 Permitting – No building permits and or Occupancy permits are required? All Environmental Permit, if required, are to be managed by the Government, this to include TDEC, USACE, and or

TVA?

A1 The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is responsible for concurrence from the USACE.

While no City/State permits are required for this project, the company is required to remediate any building/structural discrepancies to meet USFWS engineering inspection criteria which will match Tennessee (hereafter “State”) building codes. The USFWS is responsible for any Federal permitting such as EPA or State oversight from TDEC or TVA.

Q2 Licensure – Because of the nature of construction and its intended use, is there required licensure to bid on this project; Tennessee License, BC, BC‐B, etc.

A2 While licensure is not required you may include license information to strengthen your technical response.

Q3 Access – During construction, Contractor will have complete and unobstructed use of the area? Are there any specific days (other than Federal Holidays) in which work should be paused to support the requirement of the hatchery?

A3 No limitations on days/times beyond holiday and premium pay limits associated with prevailing wage requirements listed in the contract. The access road will be closed to the public during construction.

Q4 Optional Items – The Specification indicates some optional items such R‐Values, height of structure, number of windows, etc. We will complete SF1442 and the estimate listed will be for base line scope; min R‐values, min‐windows, etc. We will also attach a letter with Company Letter Head indicating optional items. Both estimates will be Lump Sum estimates. Is this acceptable?

A4 We've included a spreadsheet summary to indicate what we’re looking for (attachment 4).

Please include component and labor costs in the base building quote.

Q5 Bonding – No Bid Bond is required but a 100%/100% Payment/Performance Bond is required?

A5 Correct. No bid bond is required. Any amount awarded over $35,000 requires submission of a Payment Bond at 100 percent the original contract price. Any amount over $150,000 requires both a Payment and Performance Bond at 100 percent the original contract price. See Section I clause 52.228‐15 of the solicitation.

Q6 ADA – there are no ADA requirements?

A6 No – the USFWS is responsible for any ADA requirements current or future.

Q7 Scope – Grade and subbase for structure is to be completed by the Government?

Government will be free issuing foundation stone to Contractor?

A7 Please list all grade and subbase requirements. The USFWS will take responsibility for meeting all site prep, subbase, and grading requirements listed by the winning bidder. Less cost/work to prepare the site will be considered a value add by the USFWS, not a prerequisite for the bid.

A7.2 Contractor will be responsible for all site preparation work.

Q8 Scope – Specification indicates the requirement to be “built” for industry standard of 90MPH wind load and 130MPH gust load. Are stamped drawings required for the Structure? Based on the structure’s location is there a minimum snow load requirement?

A8 No, stamped drawings are not required. All build specifications for snow/wind must meet State build requirements.

A8.2 Yes, stamped drawings are required for the structure. All build specifications for snow/wind must meet State build requirements.

Q9 Scope – Specification does directly mention a footer requirement but does not address design requirements. Does the footer design need to be engineered and stamped by a licensed TN Engineer?

A9 No.

A9.2 Yes, the footings must be designed and stamped by the contractor’s professional engineer.

Q10 Scope – Civil Work – Topsoil/Spoil – can be stocked piled adjacent to the structure?

A10 Yes, the USFWS will take responsibility for the processing of topsoil/spoil.

Q11 Scope – Gutters are not indicated as a requirement of the Specification. Are they required?

A11 Gutters are not included as part of this build project and may be evaluated at as a value add.

Q12 Scope – Exterior Drainage System – Exterior Drainage System (drain adjacent to footer) are not indicated as a requirement of the Specification. Are they required?

A12 Exterior drainage systems are not included as part of this build project and may be evaluated as a value add.

Q13 Scope – Utilities/Undergrounds – Utilities (water, power, sewer) are not a requirement of this Specification. But it was indicated that perhaps End User might seek this initiative sometime in the future. If this initiative (water, power, sewer) is possible, the installation of simple, underground conduits (not utilities just the conduit) prior to foundation/concrete slab being completed might be of value. Are simple, underground conduits required?

A13 Underground conduits are not included as part of this build package, but they are a value‐ add service the USFWS is very interested in as an optional add‐on line item (water supply, power, and general building drainage at a couple points to easily drain water from fish tanks – no sewer).

Q14 Scope – Structure Steel/Wood – For clarity the structure will have metal siding and roofing but can have metal and or wood frame/rafters/posts?

A14 Wood or steel are viable for rafters and post frame construction. Steel utilization will be evaluated as a value add. The project’s funding must first meet building size and minimum requirements, then make a value determination on the best building available for endangered species recovery within the projects funding.

Q15 Scope – Garage doors will have manually mechanism to operate?

A15 The USFWS has no stated preference between manual and power garage doors, if power operation is included – wiring is the responsibility of the USFWS.

Q16 Scope – Windows are non‐operable (will not open)?

A16 The USFWS requests operable windows. The SOW has been updated.

Q17 Scope – Interior Walls/Finishing – Specification indicates Wainscoting. Pre‐Bid briefly mentioned finishing requirements. What interior wall finishing requirements are expected?

A17 This build project does not include specific finish requirements for interior walls.

Q18 Clarification to magnitude.

A18 The magnitude is between $100,000 and $250,000. In accordance with FAR 36.204, for construction contracts, we are obligated to state the magnitude of a project using specific price ranges, both in terms of its physical characteristics and estimated price range. However, it's crucial to understand that these price ranges are broad categories and selecting one does not imply that our budget is at the higher end of that range. The intent is to give a general sense of the project's scale without revealing the Government's precise estimate. For instance, if we categorize a project as being "Between $100,000 and $250,000," it doesn't mean our budget is close to $250,000. It simply means the estimated cost falls within that bracket. The actual value could be anywhere within that range. Please provide your best and final offer.